Kitchen-cabinet



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. s. BEGKWITH. KITCHEN CABINET.

PatentedApr. 12, 1887.

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3 SheetS 'Sheet s.

' (No Model.)

J. S. BEOKWITH.

KITCHEN CABINET. I N0. 360,845. i Patent dA p'r. 12, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES STEWARD BEGKYVITH, OF BELLEVILLE, KANSAS.

KITCHEN-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,845, dated April 12,1887.

Application filed J nl y 17, 1886. Serial No. 208,298. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES STEWARD BECK- WITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Belleville, in the county of Republic and State of Kansas, have invented a new and use: ful Improvementin Kitchen-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates .to improvements in kitchen-cabinets; and it consists of the peculiar combination and novel construction and arrangement of the various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved kitchen-cabinet with numerous co1npartments or bins which shall be very compactly arranged or disposed, and so that a portion of all of the compartments-are exposed to View at the front end of the cabinet and within easy reach. of the operator or person standing on the floor.

The arrangement .of the bins for the flour, sugar, and other substances which it is desirable shall be stored away in large quantities ready for instant use, is such that the scoops or covers therefor can be easily reversed or changed to conduct or discharge the material or substanceinto the proper bin without danger of the substance falling into another,

bin accidentally, all as described hereinafter.

The cabinet can be built and finished in any preferred style. The device is very simple and durable in construction, cheap and inexpensive of. manufacture, and convenient.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a kitchen-cabinet embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 00 xof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, on the line 2 z of Fig. 1, through two of the bins, showing the position of the cover in its normal and reversed positions in full and dotted lines, respectively. Fig. 4. is a detail detached view of the scoop or cover. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 11 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 therein; and Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view on the line 3 3, looking in the direction of thearrow 4.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the inclosing shell or casing of my improved kitchen-cabinet, which is made of any desired size or material. This inclosing shell or casing A is divided into three subdivisions, A A, and A. In the lower division, A*, of the cabinet, and at the middle thereof, I provide alarge compartment or chamber, B, which is designed for storing various articles that may be in the way, and this compartment is closed by a swinging or sliding door, b, of any preferred form. On opposite sides of this compartment B, I provide the lower division, A, of the cabinet with a series of sliding drawers, 0, which are of any preferred or desired pattern, and these drawers slide independently of each other on suitable ways or cleats that are secured in division A* of the case or shell A, the

drawers having suitable knobs or handles for their convenient manipulation. The'napkins, table-linen, and other articles can be very conveniently stored in these drawers, as may be desired. The sides of the shell or casingA of the division A are cut away above the drawers 0 and the compartment B, as shown, and a sliding kneading-board, D, is arranged above the sameand in line with the cutaway portions of the division Aof shell or case A. The kneading or molding board is provided on its side edges .with depending cleats or flanges d, which fit between corresponding flanges or ways in the shell A, so as to prevent the said board from accidental displacement. The board is of awidth so as to fold completely within the shell, and at its outer free edge it has suitable handles or knobs for its convenient operation, the board providing a ledge or support when it is folded within the case or shell, on which articles may be placed to support them temporarily. v

E designates a series of vertical partitions, which are arranged transversely across the division A" of the shell A from the front wall thereof to the rear wall, said partitions being held rigidly in place by any suitable means. Two of these vertical partitions E are provided, which extend transversely of the division A of the shell A, one near each side of the shell, so as to form three large bins, E E", as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Two of these bins are formed by the sides of the case or shell A and the transverse partitions E, and the third chamber, E, is formed between these two partitions, the chamber E" being considerably larger than either of the chambers E; but I would have it understood that I do not intend to confine myself to this exact number of bins and the partitions which form the same, as they can be varied to suit the circumstances and the size of the cabinet to be constructed.

The middle or intermediate compartment, E of the three large compartments, E E E", of the middle division, A, of the cabinet is divided into threesub-compartments, F F F", by means of vertical partitions F, as shown in Fig. 7. These vertical partitions F are arranged at the front end of the middle or intermediate compartment, E'-', of division A; but they do not extend clear across the said middle compartment, the width of the partitions F being about one-half the width of the large middle compartment, E of division A, so that their rear edges terminate about at the vertical center of the said intermediate compartment, E, of the division A These three sub-compartments, F F F, of the large compartment E are located at the front end of the compartment E and in the upper portion of the same, and the sub-compartment F is arranged between the two compartments F, and the rear upper end of the said middle sub-compartment, F opens into the rear upper portion of the compartment E while the side compartments, F, are cutoff from the said larger compartment, E", at their rear ends. The rear ends of the sub-compartments F F F are separated 01' divided from the compartment E by means ofa partitiomf, which is inclined upwardly and forwardly toward the front wall of the cabinet. The upper end of the partition f, in rear of the side compartments, E, is extended to the upper wall or roof, M, of the cabinet, to completely cut off communication between the side compartments, E, and the middle compartment, E of the middle division, A; but the upper end of the partitionf, in rear of the middle sub-compartment, F terminates on a plane a short distance beneath the plane of the upper wall, M, of the cabinet, as at-f in Fig. 3, so that communication is permitted between the upper ends of thelarge middle compartment, E", and the middle subcompartment, F.

G designates a horizontal partition, that is arranged entirely across the front ends of the compartments E E" and about midway of the vertical partitions F. This horizontal partition forms the bottom to the sub-compartments F F F of the middle compartment, E of the division A, and likewise forms the bottom of the sub-compartments E of the side compartments, E, the upper portion of the said side compartments, E, being divided into two subcompartments, E E, by means of an inclined partition, 0, which is arranged in an inclined position and rigidly held in place. The rear ends of the upper lower sub-compartments, E

seas is E, are divided or separated from the larger side compartments, E, by a fixed inclined partition, e, which is extended in a vertical line, as at e in Fig. 5, to a point a short distance below the open upper end of the upper subcompartment, E, the said partition 0 serving also as a deflector to discharge the substance falling thereon into the compartment E.

The auxiliary or supplemental compartments F are divided from the compartment E by means of the horizontal partition G, as shown in Fig. 7, and an inclined rear wal1,f, the upper portion, f, of which inclines in reverse direction to the lower portion, f. These auxiliary compartments F have inclined false bottoms or deflecting partitionsf, arranged at a short distance beneath the open mouth thereof, and the rear ends of these false bottoms or deflecting partitions are arranged out of contact with the bottom and rear wall of the compartment, so as to form an eXitopening, through which the substance that falls on the false bottoms or deflecting partitions passes into the lower portion of the compartment F, and the inclined false bottoms or partitions e of the compartments E are arranged in their respective compartments in corresponding manner, so as to form the deflecting partitions and the openings of ports at the rear of the compartments. By means of these inclined deflecting partitions and discharge-openings, the substances that are stored in the compartments E and F are caused to flow into the bottom at the proper rate, and as soon as a small quantity has been removed the bulk being held above the deflecting partition. By this means the substance that is stored in the compartments E F is prevented from falling out and becoming wasted when the doors at the lower end thereof are opened, and the material is discharged at the rear end of the compartment and in small quantities, as will be very readily understood. The compartment F is likewise provided with an inclined deflecting partition, f that forms the contracted dischargeopening at the rear portion thereof, for a purpose hcreinbeforc explained.

It will be seen that the end compartments, E, are larger than either of their subcompartments and the compartments F F", and the intermediate compartment, E", is larger than either of the large end compartments, E. This large compartment E is designed to receive flour or other substance which is to be stored in large quantities in the bin, and the side compartments are to receive cornmeal; or the larger end and middle compartments, E and E of the middle division, A, extend to the front end of the cabinet, beneath the smaller compartments therein, which are arranged above the lower extended ends of the end and middle compartments, E E, so that ready and easy access can be had to the said larger compartments beneath the smaller compartments, the front of all of the compartments or bins being at the front of the case or shell A. By this means ready access can be had to any and all of the compartments or bins of the division A and the bins are compactly and conveniently arranged to store a larger and a greater variety of substances within a very small space.

The side compartments, F, of the large middle compartment, E of the division A are each provided with aflat cover, which completely closes the upper end thereof, asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the rear wall, f, of the said side compartments being extended to the roof M,to completely close the rear ends of the said compartments. As the upper end of the partition f of the sub-compartment F of the middle chamber, E of the division A and the upper sub-compartment, Efl of the side chambers, E,do not extend to the upper wall or roof, M, of the cabinet, ready access can be had to the rear portion of the said compartments E E of the middle division, A through the upper end of the sub-compartments F E* thereof, respectively. These open upper ends of the large compartments E E are each closed by means of a reversible coyer, which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. This reversible cover comprises a flat body having at its ends triangular flanges j, and which in turn are provided with smaller flanges or lips j, the cover having a suitable handle or knob, k, for its convenient manipulation. This cover is fittedin the open mouth of the bins or compartments E E in an inclined position, so as to discharge the material that is to be poured into either one of the bins. The reversible cover is held rigidly in place in the open mouths of the bins by means of the lips thereof fitting in vertical grooves or channels 2, (shown in Fig. 1,) formed in the vertical partitions. l y I The operation of this part of my invention is'as follows, reference being had more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings: When it is desired to direct one substance into the middle sub-compartment, E of the middle division, A the cover I is adjusted or turned so that it is inclined downwardly and forwardly, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, the lips j of the cover fitting in the verticaL groovesl to hold the cover in place. The substance falls on the inclinedcover, and thence onto the inclined partition f in the compartment E and is thereby directed to the rear of the compartment F; but when it is desired to fill the largest bin or compartment F; of the division A of the cabinet the position of the cover I is reversed, so that it inclines downwardly and rearwardly, as shown in dotted lines, whereby the material falling thereon will be directed onto the partition f,and thence tothe rear portion of the compartment or bin E as will be very readily understood. The open mouths of the bins E and E however, are closed by covers J, which are auxiliary to the covers I. .Each of these compartments or bins is provided with a viewing-opening, which is arranged above the inclined false bottom and protected by a glass pane, K, for

therein, and each bin is further provided with a vertically-sliding door, L, which moves in grooves or suitable ways, so that easy and ready access can be had to the bottoms of the compartments beneath the inclined deflecting partitions therein,to prevent-the contents from falling out accidentally and becoming wasted. A small space or compartment is provided beneath the smaller side compartments, F, and to utilize this space I have provided a series of independently-sliding drawers, M, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, which are of any approved pattern. These drawers are independently supported on suitable ways and have knobs for their convenient operation. Each of the drawers and doors of the bins may be provided with suitable labels to denote the contents therein.

At the upper part of the division A of the cabinet, above the bins by the division A, I place an upper bin or-eompartment, N,which is arranged in rear of the open mouths of the bins of the division A and A of thecabinet, and this compartment N is provided with one or more swinging or sliding doors with suitable knobs or handles.

This compartment is,

designed to receive crockery-ware or silverintermediate compartments, E E the horizontal partition G, forming the supplemental subcompartments in the said side and intermediate compartments, and the inclined deflecting partitions terminating at their rear ends out of contact with, the rear wall and bottom of the compartment to\form a contracted dischargeopening, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a kitchen-cabinet, the combination of the vertical transverse partitions E, arranged near the sides of the case to form the side and intermediate compartments, E E the horizontal partition G, forming the sub-compartments with theside and intermediate compart ments, and the inclined deflecting partitions terminating at their rear ends out of contact with the rear wall and bottom of the compartment to form a contracted discharge-opening, and a viewing-opening arranged above the in-. clined partition, substantially as set ,forth.

3. In a kitchen-cabinet, acase containing a chamber having an opening in its front side ments formed by the vertical and inclined pan titions, and having an open common mouth, and a reversible cover or partition provided with the triangular flanges that are fitted in grooves in the vertical partitions, substantial] y as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES STEXVARD BECKW 1TH. \Vitnesses:

D. W. HAMILTON, E. \V. \VAGENER. 

